Beware And Read The Fine Print/Lessons Learned

[bemc]

We booked a Viking River Cruise in France and bought CSA travel insurance through Vacations to Go, our travel agent, to protect us. Viking Air booked the flights and were to handle transfers to the ship. Upon arrival at the Tampa Airport to start our trip to the ship we learned our inbound aircraft had made an emergency diversion to another airport causing a major delay in our flight and causing us to miss our connection to Europe. The next flights were late the next day arriving after well our ship left. We could be rebooked but we would have to find our own way from the Marseille airport to where the ship was along the river, as transfers were only available the day of departure. We would miss two days of the cruise and the one port we really wanted to see.

 

After much consternation and discussing our plight with Viking, CSA, and Vacations to Go, it seemed best to cancel the cruise and file a claim for Trip Interruption with CSA. We did so and were appalled to learn that the only airline delays covered are for mechanical and/or weather related delays. The delay of emergency diversion is not covered!!!

 

We have appealed but are concerned we have lost everything!

 

Lessons to be learned:

 

Read the fine print on the Insurance and watch out for CSA.

Don’t assume your cruise company or travel agent is watching out for you.

Never allow flights to be scheduled on the last flight out of departing airports or to Europe.

Never allow flights to be scheduled on the last day before the cruise leaves

[6rugrats]

Were your tickets not endorsable to another airline that could have gotten you there in time to make your cruise?

[Happy2cruise]

 

After much consternation and discussing our plight with Viking, CSA, and Vacations to Go, it seemed best to cancel the cruise and file a claim for Trip Interruption with CSA. We did so and were appalled to learn that the only airline delays covered are for mechanical and/or weather related delays. The delay of emergency diversion is not covered!!!

 

/quote]

I confused as to why after talking to the cruiseline, CSA and travel agent, they ALL agreed it was best to cancel and file a claim that ends up being denied... would not one of them know it would not be covered:confused:

Edited April 24, 2014 by Happy2cruise